Botswana Information

Botswana information and fingertip facts to prepare you for your holiday

Botswana is a land with a generally flat landscape, but which is so diverse in topology, it offers visitors a range of experiences from the Kalahari and
Makgadikgadi to the Okavango Delta and Chobe River.

The information provided below is for visitors who want to know a bit more about the place before they get there. It is vital travel information for the self-driver and fly-in tourists alike.

Information on Botswana's Weather & Climate

It is complicated to say when is the best time of the year to visit Botswana, as the
weather patterns across the country tend to vary, which in turn affects the surroundings and wildlife in the different areas. Find out the best time to visit your
Botswana destination.
Read more of Botswana's weather and climate...

Map of Botswana

Below is a basic map of Botswana's territory. You can see the boundaries with
the surrounding countries of Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and
Zimbabwe. You can
also see the different national parks in Botswana, the different towns and
cities, the locations of the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta.

Botswana Information - Map of Botswana
(Source - Rooms for Africa)

Below is the Chobe National Park section of our Google Map. It shows the boundary of Chobe National Park, accommodation and places of interest in the area.

Electricity and Communication

The power supply in Botswana, as with countries in southern Africa, is 220/240V AC/60 Hz. Both round (Type M) and square (Type G) three pin wall sockets are used, so you should travel with both adaptors.

There are three mobile phone companies from which you can purchase a sim card to use with your mobile phone. You will also be able to roam using your
mobile phone, although this may be quite costly. There are areas within Botswana that you will struggle to get cell phone reception if any at all (especially
when you go on safari), but in most cases, lodges will have a satellite phone or landline. The international dialling code for Botswana is +267 (or 00267).

Internet cafe's are available in the larger centres, although mobile phone users typically just use their mobile phones to access the internet.

Botswana Information on Currency and Banking

Botswana's currency is the Pula (see the foreign exchange rates
here). Barclays Bank Botswana, Standard Chartered Bank and First National Bank are the local commercial banks.
You will also find a few currency exchange bureau's in the major centres and
border towns. Not all of Botswana uses credit card facilities but Visa and MasterCard
are the most widely accepted with American Express and
Diners Club cards being used in some places. Large supermarkets, fuel stations, hotels and travel agents, for example will
most likely take credit cards. ATMs are available in most towns and will dispense Pula and not international currencies. You are welcome to bring any amount of cash
in Pounds sterling, US dollars, Euros, South African rand, as
long as you declare it at your point of entry. Most camps and lodges will accept
these major currencies, as well as credit cards (Visa, MasterCard).

Getting to Botswana

The way to travel to Botswana is either by air or road. It is important to note that although not impossible to get to, some areas are quite remote. Some places are only accessible by air, while other areas are simple to drives to. So how
exactly can you get there?
Find out here...

Entry Regulations

All visitors to Botswana are required to have a valid passport. Visitors to Botswana are allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days per year. There are different
visa regulations for nationals of
different countries, so be sure to understand whether or not you will need to obtain a visa prior to travelling to Botswana, or if you can get a visitor's visa on your arrival. See our
Botswana visa page for more information.

Botswana requires visitors who have been to high risk yellow-fever countries to provide
a vaccination certificate upon entry into the country. If you do not live or
have not visited a yellow fever zone, you do NOT need to produce a yellow
fever certificate. For more information
about countries that are considered high-risk areas, please visit our
Yellow
Fever page.

Food in Botswana

The type of food in Botswana is diverse. Depending on where you visit, you
can find local traditional dishes, a mixture of other foods that are typically found in Southern Africa
(i.e., South Africa Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, parts of Mozambique, etc.), and
international cuisine (Portuguese, Asian, German, Brazilian, Indian, Italian,
Greek, Lebanese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, etc). You
will also find fast food places, steakhouses, pizza places, and the popular
franchises such as Nandos, Mug & Bean and News Cafe. Safari lodges in the
Botswana wilderness will typically provide all meals for guests, including those
taken during excursions.

Due to strict control of the foot and mouth disease, Botswana does not allow visitors to bring dairy or meat
products into the country - these can be bought once you have entered Botswana.

Tap water is generally safe for drinking, but we advise buying mineral water especially when you self drive or when going into remote areas. It does get hot and dry in some areas, so you must have enough water with you when you travel. Lodges, hotels, camps and supermarkets generally have a supply of mineral water bottles.

Tipping
Tipping is welcomed, although is not compulsory and should be done at your
own discretion in-line with the level of service you feel as though you have
received. The usual is 10%.

Health & Medical

Botswana does not carry any major health risks except for Malaria. It
is highly recommended to take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting this disease. Northern Botswana has a higher malaria risk than the southern region.
There are numerous primary healthcare facilities throughout the country.

Botswana is not considered a yellow-fever risk area. For information about
which countries are considered high-risk yellow fever areas,
visit our page.

Always stay hydrated and use sun protection such as wide hats, sun screen,
sun glasses and long sleeved light shirts. The Botswana sun tends to get hot and
can be dangerous. Enjoy the booze cruises, but remember to rehydrate.

Botswana does have a high HIV infection rate, and although this may not
affect visitors, it is important to know and make sensible decisions.

Safety & Crime in
Botswana

Botswana is generally a very peaceful and safe country. However, visitors
must be sensible and take at least the basic safety precautions such as locking car and hotel doors.
Leave valuables only in safes or take them with you. Secure your
belongings when in crowded places and when coming out of banks for example. Avoid being in
dubious looking places and walking alone at night. See more camping safety tips listed
in the next section.

Camping Tips and Regulations

Here are some tips and rules that you need to be aware of if you are going camping in Botswana:Tips
• Type of Vehicle to use: We generally recommend a type of 4x4 when driving through Botswana's parks.
• Supplies: There are no places to stock up on supplies within National Parks. You will need to carry enough water, fuel, food and spare wheels - at least 20 litres of water per person; at least 100 litres of fuel in metal jerry tins.
• Safety: If you can, travel in a convoy of at least 2 vehicles. National Parks are not fenced so you must bare in mind and take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. Always camp in designated areas.Parks Regulations
• Do not swim in lagoons or streams - there are hippos and crocodiles in that reside in such places.
• Do not bathe or swim in still bodies of water - however, designated swimming pools, such as those at lodges, camps and hotels, are generally safe.
• Bury and burn all rubbish and waste matter.
• Do not sleep on animal paths or bridges. Do not sleep with your feet
or hands protruding from your tent.
• Extinguish all fires and cover them with sand. Make sure cigarettes are extinguished and place in a fire or empty bottle or can. Use the rubbish bins at the campsites or carry the rubbish with you to dispose of in designated waste containers.
• Children - Never leave your children alone or let them wander by themselves.
Never let them sleep or nap out in the open or on the ground.
• Do not stray from the campsite or take walks without a qualified
guide. Avoid walking at night. It is better to drive to ablution facilities
within the campsite.
• Observe the park gate opening hours. Between March and September,
parks are open from 6am to 6pm, and between October and February from 5:30am to
7:30pm.
• Park fees are charged per day.
• Do not use noisy electrical equipment, radios or generators. Loud
music is not allowed within the national parks.
• Animals - Do not tease or feed wild animals. Domestic animals are not permitted in the parks.
• Do not drive off the roads, and night driving is not permitted in the parks.
• Boats - Using personal boats is not allowed in the parks.
• Do not remove any living or other objects from the park.
• Firewood - It is prohibited to pick up wood for fire in the park.
• Hunting and possession of arms and ammunition is strictly prohibited.